Horn



I 1, 1931. v Y J. 5 THOQP 1,821,590

HORN

Filed Aug 16, 1930 MyM A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 1, 1931 TENT ()FFICE i JOEL R. THORP, OF WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNGR TO THE FULTON COMPAINYQOF 2 WEST ALLIS, WISCONFEIN, ACORPOR iiTION F WISCGNSIN HGBN "Application filed August 16, 1930.Serial No. 475,708.

The .present invention relates to improvements in the construction of sinals, and especially to horns of the type used. as signals onautomobiles or other vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved horn signal whichis simple in construction and eflicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved automobilesignal which warns withoutstartling, which can be op erated to produce aloud or a soft tone, and which can .be heard for long distances andabove competing trafiic noises.

A further object of they invention is to provide an improved hornstructure which may be 'manutactured at minimum cost, which is extremelydurable in construction, and which presentsa neat appearance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a. signal which maybe conveniently applied to various styles-and types of vehicles,andwhich may be operated by waste exhaust gases from an internalcombustion engine constituting the vehicledrive.

These and other objects and advantages will appear-from the followingdetailed description.

A. clear conception 0t an embodiment of the invention. and of the modeof constructing and ofoperating hornsbuilt in accordance therewith, maybe had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part ofthis specification, in whichlike reference characters designatethe sameor similar parts in the va 'ious views. v

Fig. 1 is a. central longitudinal section through one of the improvedhorns and an improved controlfor the delivery of gases thereto, showingthe same associated with the exhaustpipe' of an automobile engine;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the'horn and of the valve for controlling thedeliveryof gases thereto;

Fig. 3'is an enlarged central longitudinal section through the horn baseand several of the elements associated therewith, showing the partsduring the process of assembly thereof; L

Fig. 4 is a part sectional end view of the operating with an adjacentorifice bore '11, provided with ly embracing 6, directly adjacent to thehub of the plate horn base, the section being taken along the and havingan integral central projection 7 anda tapered bore 11 surrounding theprojection; a nozzle plate 8 embracing the projection 7 and having.U-shaped peripheral portions coacting with the bore 11 to form anannular series of orifices 12-; and a series of tubular casings 27 ofdifferent effective lengths, each having an end opening 28 co- 12 toform whistles having different tones, the casings 27 being rigidlyattachedto thebase 6 and being disposed parallel to the central axis ofthis base.

The base 6 has its end remote from the internal screw threads 17 whichare cooperable with the threaded end of a supporting .elbow '18, theexterior of the threaded base end being polygonal to permit applicationof a wrench.

The integral projection .7 of the base 6 'is of :and is united with..the

cylindrical shape,

6 by means of a spider body of the base line with-the orifices 12.

The nozzle plate 8 is preferably formed of a piece of sheetmetaldistorted to snugly fit the cylindrical projection-7 and the taperbore 11. After the plate 8 has been properly positioned within the bore7 and against the spider 10, during assembly, it 'is preferably lockedin position by means of a small screw, as shown in Fig. 5. .Also snugtheprojection '7 of the base 8, is a longitudinally split sleeve 9 the boreof which has a drive fit upon the projection 7. V The sleeve 9 is'ofsufiicient thickness to properlyposition the open ends of the tub-'ular. casing 27 relative to the orifices '12, and is' fixed inassembledlposition by means P10 the arms of which are spaced apart to 7provide unobstructed openings disposed in of rivets extendingtransversely through the adjacent casings 27, sleeve 9 and projection 7,as shown in Fig. 1.

The four tubular casings 27 are of different effective lengths in orderto produce different tones, and are properly positioned 'relative to theorifices 12 and parallel to each other, by means of a pair of spacedsheet metal retaining plates 14, 15. The retaining plate 14 has acircularJcentral' open ing which embraces the projection 7 directlyadjacent to the end of the sleeve 9, and the other plate 15 has a squarecentral opening which snugly fits and is secured to the outer squaredend 16 of a supporting tube 13, the inner end of which is circular andsnugly fits the end of the projection 7. The inner circular end of thetube 13 is rigidly attached to the projection 7 and engages theretaining plate 14 so as to hold the same in place against the end ofthe sleeve 9. During assembly of the tubular casings 27 about thesupporting tube 13, the peripheral projections of the plates 14, 15located between the successive casings 27, are bent at angles withrespect to their normal planes, and when the casings 27 have beeninserted in the notches of the plates 14, 15, the intervening plateprojections are twisted into the planes of the plates, thereby lockingthe casings 27 in proper assembled position.

The end of the supporting elbow remote from the base 6, has screw threadcoaction with a T-fitting 19 which may be attached to a gas pressuresupply line 20 by means of a set screw, and also has a gas exhaust pipe26 attached thereto in line with the supply pipe 20 by means of asimilar set screw. \Vhen utilizing the signal horn in conjunction withan automobile or other vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine,the supply pipe 20 is in fact the exhaust pipe from the engine, so thatthe exhaust gases serve to blow the horn. Disposed within the T-fitting19, is a butterfly valve 21 having an auxiliary valve 22 formed integraltherewith, the butterfly valve being adapted to control the directpassage of gases through the fitting 19, and

the auxiliary valve serving to control the passage of gases through thebranch of the fitting 19 which communicates with the elbow 18. A coiledspring 23 normally tends to hold the valves 21, 22 in ineffectiveposition, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and an arm 24 and a rod 25cooperating therewith, serve to swing the valves to the dotted lineposition against the tension exerted by the spring 28.

The mode of assembling the improved signal horn, will be generallyapparent from the foregoing detailed description. After the base 6 hasbeen properly machined, the sheetmetal nozzle plate 8 is slipped overthe projection 7 and is secured in proper final position within thetapered bore 11. The sleeve 9 is then driven in place over theprojection 7, after which the inner plate 14 is applied to theprojection The tube 13 is then driven over the end of the projection 7and against the plate 14, after which the tube 13 is riveted directly tothe projection of the base 6. The outer plate 15 is then attached to thesquared end 16 of the tube 13, after which the tubular casings 27 may beinserted laterally into the peripheral notches of the plates 14, 15. Theperipheral projections of the plates 14, 15 may then be twisted into theplanes of these plates, after which the inner ends of the casings 27 maybe riveted to the sleeve 9 and projections T as shown, thereby complet'ing the assembly of the horn.

lVith the horn applied to a control valve, as shown in Fig. 1, the hornmay be blown at the will of an operator by merely manipulating the rod25. As the gas passing through the elbow 18 advances through the base 6and is discharged from the orifices 12, it is delivered across theopenings at the inner ends of the tubes 27, and produces a whistlingtone. Due to the variations in length of the casings 27, the tonesproduced by the difference in length of the resonating chambers, willnaturally be different, and the combined sound produced by the horn willcreate a very pleasing and melodious effect. When the butterfly valve 21has been swung to the dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 1, all ofthe gases passing through the pipe 20 are also caused to pass throughthe orifices 12 and to thereby blow the horn loudly. By controllablyreleasing the rod 25, the quantity of gases delivered to the horn may bedecreased at will, thereby re-.

ducing the volume of the sound produced by the horn.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the improvedhorn signal is extremely simple in construction and eflicient inoperation. The sound produced by this type of horn is not harsh orstartling, and the tone is conveniently controllable to produce mellowtones of various degrees of loudness. The structure may obviously bemanufactured in quantity at relatively low cost, and when the parts areassembled, an extremely durable construction results. While the horn hasbeen described as being specifically applied to the exhaust pipe of anautomobile, it will be apparent that its uses are far more general.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact details of construction herein shown and described, forvarious modifications within the scope of the claims may occur topersons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to Letters Patent:

secure by 1. In combination, a base having a bore, a plate having aseries or" peripheral recesses coacting with the surface of said bore.to form an annular series of orifices, and a plurality of tubularcasings each having an opening coacting with one of said orifices toproduce a different sound than that produced by the other casings.

2. In combination, a base having a tapered bore, a plate having a seriesof peripheral recesses coacting with the tapered surface of said bore toform an annular series of orifices directed away from the axis of saidbase, and a plurality of tubular casings of difierent lengths eachhaving an opening coacting with one of said orifices to produce a sound.

3. In combination, a base having a central projection and a tapered boresurrounding said projection, a plate having a series of peripheralrecesses coacting with the tapered surface of said bore to form anannular series of orifices extending away from said projection, and aplurality of tubular casings secured to said projection and each havingan opening coacting with one of said orifices to produce a sound.

4. In combination, a base having a central integral projection and abore surrounding said projection, a plate having a central portionembracing said projection and having peripheral recesses coacting withthe surface of said bore to form an annular series of orifices, and aplurality of tubular casings secured to said projection and each havingan opening coacting with one of said orifices to produce asound.

5. In combination, a base having a central projection and a boresurrounding said projection, a plate having a peripheral recess coactingwith the surface of said bore to form an orifice, a sleeve embracingsaid projection and coacting with said plate, and a tubular casingsecured to said sleeve and to said projection and having an end openingcoacting with said orifice to form a whistle.

6. In combination, a base having an integral central projection and atapered bore surrounding said projection, a plate coacting with saidvbore to form an annular series of orifices, a sleeve embracing saidprojection and coacting with said plate, and a series of tubular casingssecured to said sleeve and to said projection, each of said casings having an end opening coacting with one of said orifices to form a whistle.

7 In combination, a'base having a projection and a bore surrounding saidprojection, a plate coacting with said bore to form an orifice, asupporting tube secured to said projection, and a tubular casing securedto said tube and to said projection, said tubular casing having an endopening coacting with said orifices to form a whistle.

8. In combination, a base having a central integral pro ection and atapered bore surrounding said pro ection, a plate coacting 'with saidbore to form an annular series oi orifices directed away from saidprojection, a tube rigidly. attached to said projection, and an annularseries of tubular casings secured to said projection, and to said tube,each of said casings having an end opening coacting with an adjacentorifice to form a whistle.

9. In combination, a base having a central projection and a boresurrounding said projection, a plate coacting with said bore to form anorifice, a tube secured to said projection, a retaining plate attachedto said tube, and a tubular casing secured to said projection andconfined in position by said retaining plate, said tubular casing havingan end opening coacting with said orifice to form a whistle.

10. In combination, a base having a central pro ection and a boresurrounding said projection, a plate coacting with said bore to form anannular series of orifices, a tube secured to said projection and havinga squared outer end, a retaining plate secured to said tube end, and aplurality of tubular casings each secured to said projection andretained in position by said retaining plate, each of said casingshaving an opening coacting with an adjacent orifice to form a whistle.

11. In combination, a base having a central projection and a boresurrounding said projection, a plate coacting with said bore to form anannular series of orifices, a tube secured to said projection, aretaining plate confined upon said projection by an end 0 said tube, asecond retaining plate secured to the opposite end of said tube, andaplurality of tubular casings coacting with said plates and with saidorifices to form whistles.

12. In combination, a base having a bore,

a plate coacting with said bore to form a series of orifices, and aseries of tubular casings each having an opening coacting with anadjacent orifice to produce a whistle, said orifices being formed todirect the gases passing therethrough across said openings in saidcasings.

18. In combination, a base, a supporting tube secured to said base, aretaining plate secured to said tube and having peripheral projectionsforming an intervening recess, and a tubular casing insertable laterallywithin said recess only when said projections are distorted, said casingbeing confined within said recess by twisting of said projections.

lt. In combination, a, base, a pair of spaced retaining plates securedto said base, said plates having projections forming alined recesses,and a tubular casing insertable within said recesses only by displacement of adjacent portions of said projections out of a plane, saidcasings being retained Within said recesses when said projections aredisposed Within the planes of said plates.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JOEL R. THORP.

